Health advocates in Africa worry Trump will reimpose abortion 'gag rule' governing US aid

EPWORTH, Zimbabwe (AP) — Carrying her infant daughter, 19-year-old Sithulisiwe Moyo waited two hours to get birth-control pills from a tent pitched in a poor settlement on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. The outreach clinic in Epworth provides Moyo with her best shot...

Florida's new state lawmakers may test DeSantis' influence in final years of his term

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s upcoming legislative session could test Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ influence in the state, on the back of his failed attempt to challenge President-elect Donald Trump for the Republican nomination and as he considers his political future beyond the...

Judge dismisses a lawsuit over South Dakota abortion-rights measure that voters rejected

A South Dakota judge dismissed a lawsuit that an anti-abortion group filed in June targeting an abortion rights measure that voters rejected this month. In an order dated Friday, Circuit Court Judge John Pekas granted Life Defense Fund's motion to dismiss its lawsuit against Dakotans...

Judge strikes down Wyoming abortion laws, including an explicit ban on pills to end pregnancy

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A state judge on Monday struck down Wyoming's overall ban on abortion and its first-in-the-nation explicit prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy in line with voters in yet more states voicing support for abortion rights. Since 2022, Teton...

Judge strikes down Wyoming's abortion bans, including an explicit prohibition on pills to end pregnancy

Virginia Democrats advance efforts to protect abortion, voting rights, marriage equality

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats who control both chambers of the Virginia legislature are hoping to make good on promises made on the campaign trail, including becoming the first Southern state to expand constitutional protections for abortion access. The House Privileges and...

Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings — even unpopular ones

BALTIMORE (AP) — Several U.S. Catholic bishops on Wednesday encouraged the church to boldly share Vatican teachings on a range of hot-button issues, including the condemnation of abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy and gender-affirming surgery. The prelates acknowledged theirs is often...

Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election

Hours after Donald Trump was elected president for the second time, Dr. Clayton Alfonso had two messages from patients seeking to replace their IUDs. Over the next few days, three women inquired about getting their tubes tied. All of them said the election was the reason they were...

AP VoteCast shows Trump boosted his level of support among Catholic voters

Among several blocs of religious voters, including his loyal evangelical base, Donald Trump fared roughly as well in his victory over Kamala Harris as he did in his loss to Joe Biden four years ago. One notable difference: He did better this year among Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, a...

Republican Dan Newhouse wins reelection to US House in Washington

SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, won reelection Tuesday in Washington state’s 4th Congressional District. In his bid for a sixth term, Newhouse survived a challenge from Jerrod...